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At least 937 records · Page 52

Material and structural studies of metal and polymer matrix composites

The application of fiber composites to aeronautical and space vehicle systems indicates the following: It appears quite probable that resin/fiber composites can be developed for service at 315 C for several thousand hours and at 370 C for a few hundred hours. The retention of resin/fiber strength at these high temperatures can be achieved by modifying the polymer molecular structure or by developing new processing techniques, or both. Carbon monofilament with attractive strength values has been produced and fabrication studies to reinforce aluminum with such monofilaments have been initiated. Refractory wire-superalloy composites have demonstrated sufficiently high strength and impact values to suggest that they have potential for application to turbine blades at temperatures to 1200 C and above.

Signorelli, R. A.↗

Material and structural studies of metal and polymer matrix composites.

Research directed toward the application of fiber composites to aeronautical and space vehicle systems indicates that resin/fiber composites can be developed for service at 315 C for several thousand hours and at 370 C for a few hundred hours. The retention of resin/fiber strength at these high temperatures can be achieved by modifying the polymer molecular structure or by developing new processing techniques, or both. Carbon monofilament with attractive strength values has been produced and fabrication studies to reinforce aluminum with such monofilaments have been initiated. Refractory wire-superalloy composites have demonstrated sufficiently high strength and impact values to suggest that they have potential for application to turbine blades at temperatures to 1200 C and above.

Signorelli, R. A.↗

Evaluation and prediction of long-term environmental effects of nonmetallic materials

The properties of a number of nonmetallic materials were evaluated experimentally in simulated space environments in order to develop models for accelerated test methods useful for predicting such behavioral changes. Graphite-epoxy composites were exposed to thermal cycling. Adhesive foam tapes were subjected to a vacuum environment. Metal-matrix composites were tested for baseline data. Predictive modeling designed to include strength and aging effects on composites, polymeric films, and metals under such space conditions (including the atomic oxygen environment) is discussed. The Korel 8031-00 high strength adhesive foam tape was shown to be superior to the other two tested.

Papazian, H.↗

Evaluation of metallized paint coatings for composite spacecraft structures

The extreme temperature excursions of composite spacecraft structures in LEO must be minimized through the use of thermal-control coatings. Attention is presently given to tests of silicone resin coatings which were pigmented with either leafing aluminum or combinations of leafing aluminum with silicate-treated zinc oxide pigment. Atomic oxygen, UV/vacuum, and outgassing screening tests were conducted on several such coating formulations in order to characterize the performance characteristics of this coating concept. Performance was found to depend on pigment volume concentration.

Brzuskiewicz, John E.↗

Intermetallic matrix composites; Proceedings of the MRS Symposium, San Francisco, CA, Apr. 18-20, 1990

The present volume on intermetallic matrix composites discusses the modeling, processing, microstructure/property relationships, and compatibility of intermetallic matrix composites. Attention is given to models for the strength of ductile matrix composites, innovative processing techniques for intermetallic matrix composites, ductile phase toughening of brittle intermetallics, and reactive synthesis of NbAl3 matrix composites. Topics addressed include solidification processing of NbCr2 alloys, Ta and Nb reinforced MoSi2, the microstructure and mechanical behavior of Ni3Al-matrix composites, and ductile-phase toughening of Cr3Si with chromium. Also discussed are dislocation morphologies in TiB2/NiAl, the development of highly impact resistant NiAl matrix composites, the effect of notches on the fatigue life of the SCS-6Ti3Al composite, and the chemical stability of fiber-metal matrix composites.

Anton, D. L.↗

International SAMPE Symposium and Exhibition, 37th, Anaheim, CA, Mar. 9-12, 1992, Proceedings

The present conference discusses the industrial and transportation markets for advanced composites, novel NASA and military applications of advanced materials, composite space structures, sandwich structures, composite tooling and processing, advanced epoxy compositions, composites repair, commercial applications of advanced resins, metal-matrix composites, adhesive compositions, ultrahigh-temperature composites, failure analyses, testing methods for composites, and bismaleimides and polyimides. Also discussed are composite structures design, innovations in composite reinforcement, nonautoclave-processed composites, molecular composites, design and manufacture processes with thermoplastics, automation in manufacturing, technologies for large component fabrication, damage-limitation design practices, thermoplastic-matrix composites, industrial applications of composites, and process controls in composites manufacturing.

Grimes, Glenn C.↗

Benchmarking the QUAD4/TRIA3 element

The QUAD4 and TRIA3 elements are the primary plate/shell elements in NASTRAN. These elements enable the user to analyze thin plate/shell structures for membrane, bending and shear phenomena. They are also very new elements in the NASTRAN library. These elements are extremely versatile and constitute a substantially enhanced analysis capability in NASTRAN. However, with the versatility comes the burden of understanding a myriad of modeling implications and their effect on accuracy and analysis quality. The validity of many aspects of these elements were established through a series of benchmark problem results and comparison with those available in the literature and obtained from other programs like MSC/NASTRAN and CSAR/NASTRAN. Never-the-less such a comparison is never complete because of the new and creative use of these elements in complex modeling situations. One of the important features of QUAD4 and TRIA3 elements is the offset capability which allows the midsurface of the plate to be noncoincident with the surface of the grid points. None of the previous elements, with the exception of bar (beam), has this capability. The offset capability played a crucial role in the design of QUAD4 and TRIA3 elements. It allowed modeling layered composites, laminated plates and sandwich plates with the metal and composite face sheets. Even though the basic implementation of the offset capability is found to be sound in the previous applications, there is some uncertainty in relatively simple applications. The main purpose of this paper is to test the integrity of the offset capability and provide guidelines for its effective use. For the purpose of simplicity, references in this paper to the QUAD4 element will also include the TRIA3 element.

Pitrof, Stephen M.↗

Al2O3 fiber strength degradation in metal and intermetallic matrix composites

The mechanisms for fiber damage in single crystal Al2O3 fiber-reinforced composites were investigated. Both fiber fragmentation and fiber strength degradation were observed in composites with a variety of matrix compositions. Four mechanisms that may be contributing to the fiber strength loss have been proposed and include matrix reaction, reaction with binders, residual stress-induced damage, and pressure from hot pressing. The effect of matrix reaction was separated from the other three effects by sputter-coating the matrices on cleaned fibers and annealing with a temperature profile that simulates processing conditions. These experiments revealed that Y and Cr in FeCrAlY base alloys and Zr in NiAl alloys reacted with the fiber, and grooves and adherent particles were formed on the fiber surface which were responsible for the strength loss. The effects of the matrix reaction appeared to dominate over the other possible mechanisms, although evidence for reaction with binders was also found. Ridges on the fiber surface, which reflected the grain boundaries of the matrix, were also observed. In order for single-crystal Al2O3 to be used as a fiber in MMC's and IMC's, a matrix or protective coating which minimizes matrix reaction during processing will be necessary. Of the matrices investigated, the Thermo-span(sup TM) alloy was the least damaging to fiber properties.

ALUMINA/IRON CHROMIUM ALUMINUM↗

Semiconductor-metal graded-index composite thin films for infrared applications

Theoretical/experimental studies have been carried out on germanium:silver (Ge:Ag) graded-index composite thin films which demonstrate that graded coatings, consisting of varied concentrations of Ag with respect to the Ge film thickness, exhibit different optical properties ranging from selective infrared (IR) reflectance to broadband IR absorptance. The graded coatings have been produced by dc magnetron cosputtering of Ge and Ag and the spectral properties are found to be stable against temperature. The coatings have been applied to an infrared tunnel sensor (micro-Golay cell) to improve the device performance.

Lamb, James L.↗

2nd Generation RLV Airframe Structures and Materials

The goals and objectives of the project summarized in this viewgraph presentation are the following: (1) Develop and demonstrate verified airframe and cryotank structural design and analysis technologies, including damage tolerance, safety, reliability, and residual strength technologies, robust nonlinear shell and cryotank analysis technologies, high-fidelity analysis and design technologies for local structural detail features and joints, and high-fidelity analysis technologies for sandwich structures; (2) Demonstrate low cost, robust materials and processing, including polymeric matrix composite (PMC) and metallic materials and processing, and refractory composite and metallic hot structures materials and processing; (3) Develop and demonstrate robust airframe structures and validated integrated airframe structural concepts, including low cost fabrication and joining, operations efficient designs and inspection techniques (non-destructive evaluation), scale-up and integrated thermal structure tests, and airframe structures IVHM; (4) Demonstrate low cost, robust repair techniques; and (5) Develop verified integrated airframe structural concepts, including integrated structural concepts.

Johnson, Theodore F.↗

Plate Deformation Behavior of Polymer Matrix Composite-Ti Honeycomb-Metal Sandwiches for Pressurized Propulsion Component Applications

THe objectives are: 1. To experimentally validate bi-axial plate flexural performance of PMC-Ti H/C-A286 sandwich panels for the internally pressurized RBCC combustion chamber support structure. 2. To explore ASTM 2-D plate flexure test (D 6416) to simulate the internal pressure loading and to correlate the results with analytical and FE modeling based on 2-D flexure properties.

Bertelsen, William D.↗

An Experimental Investigation of Silicone-to-Metal Bond Strength in Composite Space Docking System Seals

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is currently developing a new universal docking mechanism for future space exploration missions called the Low Impact Docking System (LIDS). A candidate LIDS main interface seal design is a composite assembly of silicone elastomer seals vacuum molded into grooves in an electroless nickel plated aluminum retainer. The strength of the silicone-tometal bond is a critical consideration for the new system, especially due to the presence of small areas of disbond created during the molding process. In the work presented herein, seal-to-retainer bonds of subscale seal specimens with different sizes of intentional disbond were destructively tensile tested. Nominal specimens without intentional disbonds were also tested. Tension was applied either uniformly on the entire seal circumference or locally in one short circumferential length. Bond failure due to uniform tension produced a wide scatter of observable failure modes and measured load-displacement behaviors. Although the preferable failure mode for the seal-to-retainer bond is cohesive failure of the elastomer material, the dominant observed failure mode under the uniform loading condition was found to be the less desirable adhesive failure of the bond in question. The uniform tension case results did not show a correlation between disbond size and bond strength. Localized tension was found to produce failure either as immediate tearing of the elastomer material outside the bond region or as complete peel-out of the seal in one piece. The obtained results represent a valuable benchmark for comparison in the future between adhesion loads under various separation conditions and composite seal bond strength.

Gaier, James R.↗

Composite interlayer for lithium metal based solid state batteries and the method of making the same

A solid-state electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions includes a solid-state electrolyte that defines a first major surface and an electrode that defines a second major surface. The solid-state electrochemical cell also includes an interfacial layer disposed between the first major surface of the solid-state electrolyte and the second major surface of the electrode. The interfacial layer may include an ion-conductor disposed in an organic matrix.

Chen, Mengyuan↗

Analytical and experimental investigation of aircraft metal structures reinforced with filamentary composites. Phase 1: Concept development and feasibility

The analytical and experimental investigations are described in the first phase of a program to establish the feasibility of reinforcing metal aircraft structures with advanced filamentary composites. The interactions resulting from combining the two types of materials into single assemblies as well as their ability to function structurally were studied. The combinations studied were boron-epoxy reinforced aluminum, boron-epoxy reinforced titanium, and boron-polyimide reinforced titanium. The concepts used unidirectional composites as reinforcement in the primary loading direction and metal for carrying the transverse loads as well as its portion of the primary load. The program established that several realistic concepts could be fabricated, that these concepts could perform to a level that would result in significant weight savings, and that there are means for predicting their capability within a reasonable degree of accuracy. This program also encountered problems related to the application of polyimide systems that resulted in their relatively poor and variable performance.

Oken, S.↗

Fabrication of neutron absorbing metal hydride entrained ceramic matrix shield composites

With significant improvement in High Temperature Superconductors (HTS), several projects are adopting HTS technology for fusion power systems. Compact HTS tokamaks offer potential advantages including lower plant costs, enhanced plasma control, and ultimately lower cost of electricity. However, as compact reactors have a reduced radial build to accommodate shielding, HTS degradation due to radiation damage or heating is a significant and potentially design limiting issue. Shielding must mitigate threats to the superconducting coils: neutron cascade damage, heat deposition and potentially organic insulator damage due x-rays. Unfortunately, there are currently no hi-performance shielding materials to enable the potential performance enhancement offered by HTS. In this work, we present a manufacturing method to fabricate a new class of composite shields that are high performance, high operating temperature, and simultaneously neutron absorbing and neutron moderating. The composite design consists of an entrained metal-hydride phase within a radiation stable MgO ceramic host matrix. We discuss the fabrication, characterization, and thermophysical performance data for a series of down-selected composite materials inspired by future fusion core designs and their operational performance metrics. To our knowledge these materials represent the first ceramic composite shield materials containing significant metal hydrides.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Composite structural materials

The development and application of composite materials to aerospace vehicle structures which began in the mid 1960's has now progressed to the point where what can be considered entire airframes are being designed and built using composites. Issues related to the fabrication of non-resin matrix composites and the micro, mezzo and macromechanics of thermoplastic and metal matrix composites are emphasized. Several research efforts are presented. They are entitled: (1) The effects of chemical vapor deposition and thermal treatments on the properties of pitch-based carbon fiber; (2) Inelastic deformation of metal matrix laminates; (3) Analysis of fatigue damage in fibrous MMC laminates; (4) Delamination fracture toughness in thermoplastic matrix composites; (5) Numerical investigation of the microhardness of composite fracture; and (6) General beam theory for composite structures.

Loewy, Robert G.↗

Fatigue In Continuous-Fiber/Metal-Matrix Composites

Report describes experimental approaches to quantification of fatigue damage in metal-matrix composites (MMC's). Discusses number of examples of development of damage and failure along with associated analytical models of behavior of MMC. Objectives of report are twofold. First, present experimental procedures and techniques for conducting meaningful fatigue tests to detect and quantify fatigue damage in MMC's. Second, present examples of how fatigue damage initiated and grows in various MMC's. Report furnishes some insight into what type of fatigue damage occurs and how damage quantified.

Johnson, William S.↗